This is a list of Social Media terms. It categorizes these terms into major categories for easier understanding. It defines the category and gives a few examples.

1. TheWebMarketer
Social Media Terms
Social Media encompasses, but is not limited, to the following areas:
• Applications
Applications are self-contained software that are typically served via a website (web apps) or
mobile device (mobile apps). Applications may be used to deliver information or content,
increase user interaction, or provide a service. Common examples of applications are
widgets, advergames, and device-specific software like iPhone, Android, or other smart phone
apps.
• Audio Syndication (Podcasts)
A podcast is a series of digital media files (either audio or video) that are released
episodically and downloaded through web syndication. The mode of delivery is what
differentiates podcasts from other ways of accessing media files over the Internet. The
classification of a podcast refers to audio files that are shared online and meet the following
three criteria: first, that it is episodic; second, that it is downloadable; and third, that it is
program-driven, mainly with a host and/or theme. Popular delivery methods include RSS,
Atom, and OPML. Popular listening platforms include iTunes, Zune, Juice, and Winamp.
• Blogs
A blog (a contraction of the term "weblog") is a type of website, usually maintained by an
individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such
as images or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse- chronological order. Popular
blog platforms include Blogger, Wordpress, Typepad, Livejournal, and Vox.
• Image Sharing
Image sharing websites allow individuals to upload digital images or photos to the Internet
via an image host. The image host will then store the digital images on its server and
display them to its visitors, typically along with a variety of sharing tools and code options.
Visitors may use these options to display the digital images on different websites in addition
to the website operated by the image host. In some instances, users may be allowed to
download original copies of the digital images to their own computers. Popular video sharing
platforms include Flickr, Photobucket, TinyPic, Picasa, and Shutterfly.
Page 1 of 3

2. TheWebMarketer
Social Media Terms
• Microblogs
Microblogs are a form of blog that allows users to send brief text updates or
micromedia such as images or video and publish them. These messages can be
submitted by a variety of means, including text messaging, instant messaging, E-mail,
digital audio or the web. Microblogs differ from traditional blogs in that entries are
typically smaller in actual size and aggregate file size. Popular microblog platforms
include Twitter, Tumblr, Yammer, Pownce, and Plurk.
• Slide Sharing
Slide sharing websites allow individuals to upload slide decks to the Internet via a
document host. The document host will then store the slide decks on its server and display
them to its visitors, typically along with a variety of sharing tools and code options. Visitors
may use these options to display the slide decks on different websites in addition to the
website operated by the image host. In some instances, users may be allowed to
download original copies of the documents to their own computers. Popular video sharing
platforms include Slideshare, Authorstream, Slideserve, and Slideboom.
• Social Bookmarking
Social bookmarking sites allow users to share, organize, search, and manage links to web
resources. Unlike file sharing, the resources themselves aren't shared, merely bookmarks
that reference them. Descriptions may be added to these bookmarks in the form of metadata,
so that other users may understand the content of the resource without first needing to visit
the link. Such descriptions may be free text comments, votes in favor of or against its quality,
or tags that collectively or collaboratively become a folksonomy. Popular social bookmarking
sites include Digg, Delicious, Reddit, and Propeller.
• Social Networks
Social networks focus on building online communities of people who share interests and/or
activities, or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others. Most social
networks provide a variety of ways for users to interact, such as user profiles, image and
video sharing, interest-based groups, public discussion threads, private messaging, and
instant messaging services. Popular social networks include Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace,
Bebo, and Orkut.
Page 2 of 3

3. TheWebMarketer
Social Media Terms
• User Forums and Discussion Boards
User forums are similar to social networks, but with less robust personal networking options.
The focus of a user forum, which is also sometimes referred to as a discussion or message
board, is a threaded conversation platform in which members discuss issues according to
pre-defined topics. Each discussion has opportunity for response from other members of
the forum and is normally maintained in reverse chronological order, with the most recent
comment being displayed at the top of the thread. In many cases, members may also create
user profiles and send each other private messages, similar to a social network; however
the focus of a user forum remains strongly centered on threaded discussions.
• Video Sharing
Video Sharing websites allow individuals to upload video clips to the Internet via a video
host. The video host will then store the video on its server and display the video to its
visitors, typically along with a variety of sharing tools and code options. Visitors may use
these options to display the video on different websites in addition to the website operated
by the video host. In some instances, users may be allowed to download original copies of
the video files to their own computers. Popular video sharing platforms include YouTube,
Metacafe, DailyMotion, Revver, and Blip.TV.
• Wikis
Wikis are websites that allow users to create web pages that are collaboratively edited using
a common web browser. Wikis are often used to create collaborative websites, to power
community websites, for personal note taking, in corporate intranets, and in knowledge
management systems. Popular wikis include Wikipedia, WikiWikiWeb, WikiHow, and Wikia.
Page 3 of 3